Current:Home > FinanceSoar, slide, splash? It’s skiers’ choice as spring’s wacky pond skimming tradition returns -Insightful Finance Hub
Soar, slide, splash? It’s skiers’ choice as spring’s wacky pond skimming tradition returns
View
Date:2025-04-13 21:39:08
GILFORD, N.H. (AP) — A costumed skier races down a slope, hits a pond and hydroplanes halfway across. He pirouettes and then plunges into the icy water before jumping up and waving to the cheering crowd.
It’s the wacky spring tradition of pond skimming, and it’s happening this month at ski resorts across the country. It’s often held to celebrate the last day of the skiing season before the chairlifts close until the following winter.
Among the resorts holding pond skimming events this weekend are Snowbasin in Utah and Winter Park in Colorado. Mountains in New England and California have already held events or have them scheduled for later in the month. The tradition dates back decades, made famous by the late filmmaker Warren Miller who began documenting the annual Mt. Baker Slush Cup in Washington state in the 1950s.
These days, most resorts make their own ponds with plastic sheeting and water about 3 feet (1 meter) deep. The idea is that skiers and snowboarders try to gain enough downhill momentum to skim clear across a pond. People ski in pajamas, dressed as movie characters, holding fishing rods or shirtless.
During the pond skim at Gunstock Mountain Resort in New Hampshire this month, Dan Nutton made one of the most spectacular splashes of the day. His skis dug into the water early, propelling him through the air with his arms held out like Superman before he hit the water. Hard.
“It was a little bit rough coming into the corner there, and then we hit a bump and I was going a little bit slow,” he explained with a grin. “So, I navigated incorrectly, and I made a mistake.”
Gunstock ended up making its pond longer and more challenging this year after too many skiers stayed dry at last year’s event.
“We actually do enjoy it sometimes when they don’t make it — it gets the crowd more excited and it’s a little more fun,” said Tom Day, the resort’s general manager, who is retiring after more than four decades in the ski business. “We’re going out with a bang. It’s a beautiful day. We’ve got the music on the deck, and we’ve got the barbecue, burgers going on.”
Many skiers and snowboarders showed their prowess by zipping right across the pond. Edward Murphy, dressed in a bright green costume, wasn’t one of them. He said he realized about halfway across that he wasn’t going to make it.
“I decided to reach out and grab some water,” he said.
“Feels great,” he added. “Diving into spring.”
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Deputy dies after being shot while responding to Knoxville domestic disturbance call
- Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and the ripple effect that will shape the 2023-24 NBA season
- Baltimore police: 'Multiple victims' from active shooter situation near Morgan State
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Detroit-area mayor indicted on bribery charge alleging he took $50,000 to facilitate property sale
- Flights canceled and schools closed as Taiwan braces for Typhoon Koinu
- EVs killed the AM radio star
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Pentagon comptroller warns Congress that funds for Ukraine are running low
Ranking
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Lawyers of Imran Khan in Pakistan oppose his closed-door trial over revealing official secrets
- Simone Biles makes history at world gymnastics championship after completing challenging vault
- Cases affected by California county’s illegal use of jail informants jumps to 57, new analysis finds
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Jamie Lynn Spears Reacts to Her Dancing With the Stars Elimination
- Splenda is 600 times sweeter than sugar, but is the artificial sweetener safe?
- Poland’s central bank cuts interest rates for the second time in month
Recommendation
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Blake Shelton Proves He Doesn't Wanna Love Nobody But Gwen Stefani in Sweet Birthday Tribute
Kevin McCarthy won't run for speaker again
Florida State to add women's lacrosse team after USA TODAY investigation
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
‘Tennessee Three’ Democrat sues over expulsion and House rules that temporarily silenced him
Additional U.S. aid for Ukraine left in limbo as Congress dodges a government shutdown
Wednesday's emergency alert may be annoying to some. For abuse victims, it may be dangerous